Sheriff: Border agent kills drug suspect during traffic stop scrap; suspect apparently unarmed

Sheriff: Border agent shot unarmed drug suspect

EAGLE PASS, Texas — Authorities say a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agent shot and killed an apparently unarmed drug suspect after a brief tussle during a Texas traffic stop.

Maverick County Sheriff Tomas S. Herrera said Friday that the agent shot 18-year-old Juan Mendez of Eagle Pass on Tuesday. Authorities have not disclosed the agent’s name.

Herrera says witnesses say the agent pulled over a pickup truck Mendez was driving shortly after 9 a.m. They say a 15-year-old passenger fled and that the agent and Mendez struggled briefly as he also tried to flee. They say Mendez broke free and the agent shot him twice. He says Mendez was apparently unarmed.

Mendez died at a hospital.

Herrera says agents found 325 pounds of marijuana in the truck.